Resilient wheel.



M. F. KE'HLERs RESiLET WHEEL.

APPLICATON FILED MAE, '28, i 1,140,686.

["altmlmd May 25, BHS.

" nmmxloz M. KETTLER. RESILIENT WHEEL. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 28, i914.

Patented May 25, 1915` 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

7 Y VIIII *i0 attenua.

UNITED STATES OFFICE.

MARTIN F. KETTLER, 0F HOUSTON, TEXAS, ASSIGNQB. TO DGWNING PNASUMATLGWHEEL COMPANY, 0F HOUSTON, TEXAS.

BESILIENT WHEEL.

Bpveciilcation of Letterslatcnt.

Patented May 25, 1915.

Application led Harch'28, 1914. Serial No. 827,971.

Houston, in the county of Harris and State /to in. the followingdescription Vand. indi` of Texas, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Resilient Wheels, of which the followin is aspecification.

My invention re ates to resilient wheels and particularly to that classof resilient rwheel wherein an outer rim section is supported upon apneumatic cushion disposed between the rim section and a central hubsection.

The main object of my invention, generally speaking, Ais to simplifywheels of this charactaintcheapen the construction thereof and renderthem very effective.

Afurther object is to improve the means whereby the floating ring may beadjusted to thereby adjust the cushion. .Y

A still further object is to improve the construction of the spokes ofthe spoke section.

Still another object is to so construct the floating ring that thepneumatic cushion therefor may be readily removcd and replaced andreadily inflated.

Still a further object is to improve the means whereby lubricant may beapplied to the'contacting faces of the rim section and the hub sectionof the wheel.

Other objects will appear in theiuourse of the following description. A

My invention is illustrated in th accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a face view of a wheel constructed in accordance with myinvention, the front casing plate being partly broken away. Fig. 2 is avertical section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a face view of theinner casing plate. Fig. 4 is a face view of the outer casing plate.Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the outer ring section of the outercasing plate. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the removable cone. A Fig.7 is an elevation of one of the bolts used for holding the rim sectionto the hub section. Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary section onthefsanie line as Fig. 2. Fig.;,9"s a fragmentary perspective view of aportion of the rim, Vone of the spokes Vand n portion of rthe follytogether with the outer l'and inner sing plates. Fig. 1Q is alongitudinal section through the rim, spoke and fellysection to show themethod of constructing these parts. i

Corresponding and like parts are referred catedin allthe views of theaccompanying drawings by the same referencel characters. Referring tothesedrawings, 2 designates an axle carrying at its extremity .the head3. Surrounding this axle 2 is the hub 4 which at its outer end and uponits interior face is provided with the notches which are adapted toengage with teeth on the head 8.

The hub 4 upon ,its exterior face is formed with screw threads adjacentits outer end, and inward of these screw threads is formed with acylindrical portion 7 forming a lcone seat and'then with a conical face8. Beyond this conical face 8 the hub is formed with the outwardlyprojecting ll rige 9, and beyond this flange the outer ce of the hub isextended concentric to the inner face as at 10. A cap 11 having interiorscrew threads adapted to be engaged with the exterior screw threads ofthe hub 4f. at its outer end. This cap has a lat'annular portion 12between its center and periphery whichis of such extent as to projectinward beyond the inner face of the hub 5.

Bolted or'riveted to the annular flange 9 is the annular plate 13, thisplate being slightly dished and formed with a marginal annular flange14. Also riveted to the flange 9 inward of the plate 13 is a guard orshield 15`annular in form, the periphery of which is inwardly bent as at1.6. These plates 13 and 15 are permanently fastened upon the -hub as isshown plainly in Fig. 2. Opposed to the body of the late 13 is aremovable plate 17 which is a so slightly dished and which is adapted toengage with an annular plate 18 which confronts the annular portion 14of the plate 13. The plate 17 and the annular plate 18 are detachablyconnected to each other as will hereafter more fully appear.

Disposed upon the seat 7 is a cone 19 I li l? ben rs upon for thereception of a key 22 which engages in a. key seat 23 formed in the hub.Thus the cone 19 is held for rotation with the hub. The cone 19 is heldto its seat by means of the annular nut 2l which engages the screw'threads t3 und is disposed between the butt end of the conc 19 und theinner face of the plate 17. An annular nut 25 also engages the screwthreads G sind beurs against the pluto 17. This annular nut 25 isheld/in locked engagement upon the hub by engagement with the cup 1l,the cap 11 thus acting :is :i lock nut to the nut 25.

Disposed around the hub 4 and within the casing formed by the plates 13and 17 is u ring designated generally 26. This lring is formed in twoscr-tions 7 and 28. The section is annular in form and its margin ifformed with the inwardly projecting annuler flange 2S) having a. beveledface which the inclined face 8 of the hub and upon its outside face withthe. annuler inwardly curved clenclier flange 30. The imposed secliou 2Sahnte upon its inside edge against the scction`27 and is also formedupon its outer margin with the projtfcting flange 2Q@ :und upon ilsopposite face with the inwardly curved clencher flange 30. The twosections of the floating ring are connected to euch other by means of abolt 81 which is reduced adjacent its inner end und scr-ew threaded :is:it 32. The main portion of thc fbolt is smooth upon its outer luce. undposses louselythrough the section if? but hns screw threaded engagementwith the section 27'. As many of these bolts may no used :is desired. ltwill be obvious that ln' turning these bolts 31 in one direction, thetwo sections of the floating ring 26 may ne drown toward each other andby turning th.n bolts in the opposite direction they muy be loi-ccd:ipzirt from each other thusA pci-ruiming the introduction of apneumatic fue bcrwccn i le clcncher flanges of the sections.

The cushion iii of my improved tire is runde preferably as shown in Fig.2 in the forni of :i split pneumatic tire having the clcncher flanges 3ladopted to be engaged willi the elenchi-.r flanges 30 and 30. This tireor cushion fill is preferably composed of n core or boils7 ol rubberdesignated 35 with fin interior layer ol canvas 36 and un outer layer ofcanvas. 87, these canvas levers being vulcanized into the rubber. Q'fcourse, l lo notv wish to limit myself to any pnrticulml form of tire orcushion.

For the purpose of inating the cushion 33. l provide the nir inlet pipe38 which extends through the section 28 of the Houtine` ring und hof-:oinside ond is outwardly bent us nt flu terminating in a head 40. Thisnir inlet pipe 38 is ongiigorl with the tire by ineens ot' the head 40and has screw threaded engagement with annular members formed at this 41embedded in the tire.y The outer end of the air inlet pi p is interiorlyenlarged and has fitted therein a ball valve 42 and a valve seat againstwhich the valve 42 is desi ed to rest in order to prevent the escpe oair from the cushion. A carp 43 is removably y fitted upon the end ofthe stem of the valve and serves as an additional ventin the escupe ofair.

As i lustrated most clearly in Fig. 5, the inner margin of the annularplate' 18 is outwardly bent as at 44 and this outwardly bent flange 44is formed at intervals with the bayonet slots`45. The outer margin ofthe annular member 17 is inwardly bent or flanged as at 46 andy formedat a plurality of points with inwardly projecting studs or pins 47. eseare arranged at intervals corresponding to the disposition of the slotsso that the studs may be inserted in the slots and then the members 17've 's turn inl one direction thus locking s plate or member 17 in itsengagement with the annular member 18. The plate 17 is held locked bythe nut 25. When it is desired to remove the plate 17 from itsengagement with the annular plate 18, the nut 25 is means forprereleased and the plate 17 is rotated s, dis.

tance sullicient to disengage the studs 47 from the angular. ends of thebayonet slots and then the plate is pnlled'directly out ward thusentirely dislosing the interior `of the casing formed by the plates 17and 18.

The rim or' spoke portion of the wheel l is constructed as illustratedin Fig. 9.- It comprises'a rim section 48 having extending therefromspokes 49 which are integrally formed with a felly 50. The rim section48,

the spokes 49 and the fell? 50 are all formed integrally of sheet metaPreferably this rim section 48, the spokes 49 and the felly Y ,50 areformed of two lateralsections or halves, each section being integrallyformed of sheet metal and the like two half sections being welded toeach other as illustrated clearly in Fig. 10. The opposite faces of therim section 48 are formed with annular depressions 51 for the receptionof luhricunt. At the junction of alternate 49, the rim is outwrdlyextended as n; 52 and the outer plates of the rim section are point withan openin 53 within which is disposed a cylindrical s eeve 54 whichextends entirely across the rim section thus making a cylindricalchamber 5o in alinement with cach alternate spoke. The margin 17 of. theplate 13 and the plate .18 at intervals corresponding to the alternatespokes are enlarged as nl'. 56 to correspond with the enlarged portions52 of thc rim 48 und passing through the chamber 55 und ougiiged withthemarginnl portion 14 of the plate ll and with thc :mnulnr pluto 18 isn bolt 57. the extremities of which are reduced for passage through thcportion 14 of plate spokes' emesse 13 and through the plate 18, these.reduced portions being screw threaded for engagement with the nuts 58and 59. i

Surrounding these bolts is a buffer 6U of rubber or other suitableresilient compo sition. This butler is adapted to engage with the wall5l of the chamber 55 in the op- The rim section byi8 at pointsintersected by the axes of the alternate spokes 49 lis formed withoppositely disposed perforations 62 through which pass the sleeves 63which are welded orV brazed to vthe sheet metal ot' the rim section.These sleeves 62 each forms the wall of a bolt passage 64.

'Ihe plate 18 upon its outer face opposite veach ofthese passages 6l isformed with an opening 65 formed by an outstanding wall 66 interiorlyscrew threaded for engagement with a plug 67, llf'hen for any cause thepneumatic cushion has become de ilated or damaged so that it is notellcctivc and it is desi red to use the wheel, lock bolts 68 are adaptedto be inserted through the passages 64. Ilach of these bolts is lormedwith a :smooth portion 65) screw threaded at its outer cud as at TG forengagement with thescrew threads of the wall 65. Beyond this screwthreaded portion 70 the bolt is iormed with the manv sided head 71havingr Athe outwardly projecting shoulder 72 disA `posed,between thescrew threads 70 and the main portion oi' the head. 'l'his shoulder isadapted to engage against the edge face ol .the wall 65. '.lhe lock boltprojects entirely through the passage 6l- :ind finto openings. formed inthe plate 18. llt will he. seen that when all these lock bolts are inposition` the rim section will be held from movement relative to the hubsection of the wheel.

Thelfelly ol the wheel as illustrated in Fig. 9, is forn'ied with thelaterally disposed inwardly curved flanges 73 which are adapt ed toengagel with the lateral flanges of aresilient tread or tire 74y of anysuitable form but preferablv formed with the annular side channels 75crossed by intersecting ribs 76 so as to give a degree of resilience tothis rubber tire.

Under ordinary circumstances and in the ordinary use of the wheel, thebolts 68 are of course removed and thus the rim section proper 48, itsconnected spokes 49 and the -felly 50 are movable. bodily inward sindont- -sorbers and thus should the shock imparted to the wheel be sogreat as to cause the shock absorbing cushions 60 to engage with .thewalls 54, the absorbers or cushions will be compressed to a greater orless degree and thus prevent undue compression upon the pneumaticcushionV 33, it'being understood that greater resistance is ollered bythe shockr absorbing cushion 60 than by the pneumatic cushion 33.'Ordinarily, however, where the wheel is not being subjected to verygreat shocks.y the walls 54 of the chambers do lnot come in contact withthe coi responding shock absorbing cushion and they have no elect- It isonly when the Wheel is subjected to very great strain or jar that theshock absorbers come into action. Where as before stated the pneumaticcushion becomes deflated for any reasomds ruptured or otherwiseprevented from proper action, the bolts 68 may be inserted 'through thepassages 64 and thus the rim section connected rigidly with the hubsection. f

1f it is desired to replace the pneumatic cushion B3, the cap 1l isremoved as is the nut 25. The plate 17 is then rota-ted slightly untilits studs disengage from the slots 45 and then the plate is withdrawn1after'which the nut Z-l is unscrewod, both the nuts 24 and 25 beingprovided withmeans for the engagement of a spanner wrench. 'When thesenuts have been removed, the cone 19 may he withdrawn and the bolts 31removed thus forcing the sections Q7 and'28 of the floating ring 26.apart thus din'gaging the floating ring from the cushion 33 andpermitting the cushion to be withdrawn and a new cushion inserted. Ifthe cushion bcconu-s deflated it is only necessary to remove the cap 11,the nut 225 and the plate 17, whereupon access may be had to theinflation pipe 38 and this pipe readily connected to any ordinary meansfor tire inflation. When the nut 24 is turned up to its full extent itwill hold-fthe removable cone` 19 .against the shoulder 20 and thusforce the floating ring 26 outward and force the cushion 33 firmlyagainst the inner end'wall 61 of the rim section. n I

The advantages of my impr( ved construction lic in the simplicity ot itsconstruction,

.ease with which the parts may be assembled and disassembled. and theease with which access may be had tothe cushion 33. Thp

`plates 13 and 17 being of sheet metal may be readily stamped out, asmay the annular plate 18, and this is also true of the two sectionsorplates from which the complete rim, spokes and telly areformed.

As will be seen from Fig. 9, the channels 51`for the reception oflubricant are disbetween and separate from the vopenfliugs'or passages55 and 6e 'y the'walls 51.

Thusthese recees or vchani'nils 61 may be I lled with lgrease or otherlubricant or with hangen. This wickin or other rialigwll prevent theubricant The Ematerial contained within there All.

" of the plates 18 and 13 with the rim l`felt or wicking which maabsorbl lubricant and b ea constant feeder orlubtieatiii'g nelewill, ofcourse, lubricatethe conta ng eectiou.A As will be seen clearly fromFig. 9,

i' Igsecure greatstrength and at the same time vlightness constructingthe wheel, and paittpgr A.the. rim'portion thereof, from Slie'mlhavingrthe 'form illustrated. T e rim sec- Y tion proper 48.i s hollowand is stren honed' Q by bending the metal to form the c annels l; -Thespokes are also hollow as is the folly.; -Inasmuch as "the sections ofthe rimv are welded together, I form practically an integral rim, thejoint formed by tl'ie weldn plate 18 and the marginal flange 14 of plateing of the two sections together being. as

strong as the main body of t; e sections. As illustrated in Fig. d0, thelateral lates forming the rim section are ove lappe thus forming a verystrongjoint.

,It 'will further befseen in t s connection that the' rimproperi's'bijace by the transversely extending/sleeves l sleeves ,thus servingtwo ctions, namely, lstrengtheninv the hol, rim section and forming th/w lls of the passages and 64. It will urth flee/noted particularly fromFig. 8 that tliefbolts 57 are so formed as to provide shoulders againstwhich the ring and 54 these section and the casing and yetsupportthissection against lateral deflection.

j What 1 claim is:

. 1. In a wheel of the character` described,

, a hub screw threaded upon one end, ,a pneug inati cushion surroundinglthe hub, an inturned flange. Ban e of tha ring p ate and provided withsections welded to ther and 1,14o,eee

ner casingp having an annular marn, an outer casing late slidabl removafitted upon 'said ub, a nut olding said outer casing plate in place, aring plate dis'- posed oppositel the annular margin of they innercasingplate, a rim section including rim proper disposed between theconfrontfaces of the margin of the inner casing p ate and the ringplate, the inner edge of the ring plate being formed with an outstandingflange provided with bayonet slots, .the outer casin plate having aninwardly ttin over the outstanding st s enga `le vin said slots.

2. Ina wh 'l of the character described, a hub, a cushiopin membersupported upon thehub, outer, n v inner casing,r plates supported luponth hub and housing the cus ioning member, and a rim section sup-portedbetween the casing plates and upon the cushioning member, said sectioncomprising a hollow rim proper, hollow spokes 'and a hollow felly, therim section being formed of lateral halvesconneoted to each other, andtransversely extending sleeves disposed 'at intervals throu h the rimproper 'and bracing 4the sides o I the rim.`

described,

the hub, outer an inner casing plates suplported upon the hub andhousing the 'cush- -ioning me ber4 and aA rim section 'supported between't e casing plates and upon the cushioning mem-ber, said sectioncomprising la hollow rim proper, hollow spokes and a hollow f llv. therim section beine,r formed of later halves ponnected to each other, a'ndtransversely estending sleeves disposed at intervals throii'h the rimproper and bracing the sides o ,the rim, the side walls 'of the rimsection being formedwth longitudinally extending grooves whereby tofurther strengthen the side walls of.the rim T section. l

In testimony whereof l aix my signa- -ture in presence of two witnesses.

Witnesses:

W. H. Baines, SuM. Bmx.

